Appeal to Mothers
5
in active labor? and their unwillingness to perseveringly accomplish
that which they have undertaken which taxes the mental, as well as the
physical, strength? The tendency of many is to live in indolence.
Have you not witnessed the gloomy sadness upon the countenance,
and frequent exhibitions of a morose temper in those who once were
cheerful, kind, and affectionate? They are easily excited to jealousy,
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disposed to look upon the dark side, and when you are laboring for
their good, imagine that you are their enemy, that you needlessly
reprove and restrain them.
And have you not inquired where will all this end, as you have
looked upon your children from a moral point of view? Have you not
noticed the increase of disobedience in children, and their manifesta-
tions of ingratitude and impatience under restraint? Have you not been
alarmed at their disregard of parental authority, which has bowed down
the hearts of their parents with grief, and prematurely sprinkled their
heads with gray hairs? Have you not witnessed the lack of that noble
frankness in your children which they once possessed, and which you
admired in them? Some children even express in their countenances a
hardened look of depravity. Have you not felt distressed and anxious
as you have seen the strong desire in your children to be with the other
sex, and the overpowering disposition they possessed to form attach-
ments when quite young? With your daughters, the boys have been the
theme of conversation; and with your sons, it has been the girls. They
manifest preference for particular ones, and your advice and warnings
produce but little change. Blind passion overrules sensible considera-
tions. And, although you may check the outward manifestations, and
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you credit the promises of amendment, yet, to your sorrow, you find
there is no change, only to conceal the matter from you. There are
still secret attachments and stolen interviews. They follow their willful
course, and are controlled by their passions, until you are startled by
perhaps a premature marriage, or are brought to shame by those who
should, by their noble course of conduct, bring to you respect and
honor. The cases of premature marriage multiply. Boys and girls
enter upon the marriage relation with unripe love, immature judgment,
without noble, elevated feelings, and take upon themselves the mar-
riage vows, wholly led by their boyish, girlish passions. They choose
for themselves, often without the knowledge of the mother who has
watched over them, and cared for them, from their earliest infancy.